Joie de Vivre

your joie de vivre
annoys me
so fake
in that usual way
that comes with the territory
called mission

I’m not really sure
that I am one
for abundant living
whatever that is

I need a bit of mystery
to be plagued by doubts
to catch a glimpse
of something far too wonderful
to be boxed in a god slot

music fans enjoying the moment
christine slip sliding across the floor
a well turned phrase
a malt lightly touching my lips

I don’t want to look at the world
with blinkers on
to see my fellow humans
as hopelessly lost
in need of being saved

life is too screwed up
for such easy answers
to be read straight off the page

copyright: ashyvicar

Steelworks

there’s a tescos now
where the steelworks stood
all glass and girders
clad in wood
cathedral of commercial revolution

and as much as we mythologise
what went on before
so we look down
at the priests
upon this temple floor
serving the commercial revolution

she smiles
is polite
what else can I say
like some desperate paparazzo
I sought her out today
chose her for her looks
as she merrily beeps away

and the sacred words?
– you’ve saved £1.40
– are you collecting vouchers for pans
-how many bags have you used
-have you had your clubcard scanned
at the service of commercial revolution

is it because they’re mostly women
that I dehumanize her so?
the bishops at the steelworks
were hardly saints
its well known…..
and conditions for their priests?
well leave that one alone
because we despise
the commercial revolution

there’s a tescos now
where the steelworks stood
all glass and girders
clad in wood
cathedral of commercial revolution